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Detection of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) Among Ruminant Animals
Clinical Laboratory
|September 11, 2024
Summary
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) shows high seroprevalence in sheep and cows in Saudi Arabia. This highlights potential zoonotic transmission risks from these ruminants to humans, requiring further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Virology
- Zoonotic Diseases
- Food Safety
Background:
- Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is endemic in the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia hosting major religious gatherings.
- Animal sacrifices, including from ruminants like cows, sheep, and goats, are common during pilgrimages.
- Previous studies confirmed HEV in camels; this research expands to other consumed ruminants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the seroprevalence of HEV in cows, sheep, and goats in Saudi Arabia.
- To assess the potential risk of HEV zoonotic transmission from these livestock.
- To establish baseline data for HEV in Saudi ruminant populations.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of serum samples from 47 cows, 56 goats, and 67 sheep.
- Utilized in-house developed Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA) for HEV-IgG detection.
Main Results:
- Significant HEV-IgG seroprevalence detected across all species (p < 0.001).
- Sheep exhibited the highest seroprevalence (62.7%), followed by cows (38.3%), and goats (14.3%).
- No correlation found between HEV seroprevalence and animal demographic characteristics.
Conclusions:
- This is the first study reporting HEV seroprevalence in Saudi ruminants, providing crucial baseline data.
- High seroprevalence in sheep and cows warrants further investigation into zoonotic HEV transmission pathways.
- Future research should focus on active viremia, genotyping, and HEV detection in animal products.
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